Mazda Mazda 3

Overview

What makes the Mazda 3 one of our favorite cars—not to mention a multi-time 10Best Cars winner? Its winning formula is simple and continues to win us over: sharp looks, a near-premium interior, and sublime driving dynamics. The 3 is available in both sedan and hatchback body styles, with one of two efficient four-cylinder engines and either a slick-shifting six-speed manual or an almost-as-satisfying six-speed automatic transmission. Neither powertrain will embarrass a competitor in a stoplight drag race, but the 3 is a star when charging curvy back roads. As a daily driver, it's practical, comfortable, and stylish. Blend those virtues with a focus on driving pleasure and it's no wonder the 3 finds itself at the top of our list. An all-new and even more upscale Mazda 3 debuts for 2019.

What's New for 2019?

While the base Sport trim still has the 155-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder, Touring models now have the Grand Touring's 184-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder as standard equipment. All versions now have automated emergency braking—though it only works at lower speeds—as standard and Touring models feature a new, dark-colored aluminum wheel design; illuminated vanity mirrors and an overhead sunglasses holder become standard rather than optional equipment on the Touring. The top-spec Grand Touring trim's Premium Equipment package now includes the zoom-zoom brand's i-Activsense driver-assistance suite of features, which was previously offered as a standalone package. These include automatic high-beam headlamps, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and traffic-sign recognition.

Mazda 3 Pricing and Which One to Buy

Sport: $18,990

Touring: $20,985

Grand Touring: $24,040

We'll stand by the choice we made when we last had a Mazda 3 at our office for a long-term test: the Grand Touring hatchback with the six-speed manual. Standard equipment on the GT includes 18-inch wheels, rain-sensing wipers, power and heated exterior mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, a head-up display, and an upgraded Bose nine-speaker sound system. We'd opt for the Premium Equipment package and its navigation system, adaptive LED headlights, a heated steering wheel, and the aforementioned driver-assistance technologies. The hatchback's extra versatility is worth the upcharge over the sedan.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The 3's two powerplants are familiar Mazda fare: The 2.0-liter four-cylinder produces 155 horsepower while the 2.5-liter four churns out 184. While neither engine is what we'd consider velvety smooth, both produce ample, linear power and delivered 7.9- and 7.4-second zero-to-60-mph times, respectively, in our testing. Mazda makes the six-speed manual standard on all variants; a nicely sorted six-speed automatic is optional. Despite the automatic's strong performance and excellently tuned sport setting for maximum-attack shenanigans, we'd still go for the manual and its light-effort shifter, progressive clutch take-up, and perfectly pedals.

"Playful" and "responsive" define the 3, with a notable lightness to its controls and movements on the road. Maximum grip levels are solid and ride comfort is decent. We've complained about the Mazda in the past for some chop when driving over rough pavement and a fair amount of body roll in corners, but they don't impede the car's basic goodness. The Mazda 3 is as fun to pedal quickly as some sports sedans, and its steering is excellent in its road feel, on-center precision, and general tactility in response to cornering loads.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

While the 2.0-liter sedan beat its EPA highway figure in our highway fuel-economy test by delivering a 38-mpg result, the 2.5-liter hatch came up 1 mpg short of its 35-mpg number.

Interior, Infotainment, and Cargo

Mazda has given the 3 a smattering of basic luxuries but has paid far greater attention to the impressive fit and finish and ergonomics, which are what prompted us to proclaim the 3's cabin the best to be had for less than $30,000 back in 2015. This is especially so in the top Grand Touring trim level, featuring leather seating available with contrasting stitching, additional metallic-looking trim details, and a fancier gauge cluster sporting a large central tachometer and a digital speedometer.

The Mazda 3 features the cleverly named Mazda Connect infotainment system. While short on some features and rather slow in responsiveness, it's highly intuitive and easy to manage. The 3's most notable aspects in this regard are a standard 7.0-inch touchscreen and a redundant central rotary controller on the console, which operates similarly to Audi's MMI or BMW's iDrive interfaces. Along with additional selector buttons on the steering wheel, the redundant controls are a boon to the 3's ease of use on the move. Navigation, however, is pretty basic in function and limited to the top-tier Grand Touring model.

As with all compacts, four people can take a 3 sedan or hatch on a weekend getaway, but you'll want to pack light and keep your stay brief; additional toys or equipment will likely require more creative storage solutions. We fit six of our carry-on suitcases in the trunk of the sedan model. Folding down the split rear seat opens up far more space, but we found the process to do so—a chintzy release in the trunk that takes a couple of yanks to work—rather cumbersome.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The Mazda 3 scores very well with safety agencies, despite having a rather modest suite of driver-assistance and convenience features. Both the sedan and the hatchback received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's highest Top Safety Pick+ honor. Automated emergency braking is standard across the lineup, but the i-Activsense suite of advanced driver-assistance features—lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlamps, adaptive cruise control, and more—are a part of the Premium Equipment package on Grand Touring models. Key safety features include:

Standard automated emergency braking

Available lane-keeping assist

Available adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Mazda's warranty is good, but it's not as comprehensive as competitors such as Hyundai, with its 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain coverage, or Chevrolet, with its two free maintenance visits over the course of two years or 24,000 miles.

Both the sedan and the hatchback have a 2.5-liter four-cylinder until the advanced Skyactiv-X engine arrives later next year.

Recent News

UPDATE 11/28/18: Mazda shared a few more details about the 3's powertrains, including that the previous car's 2.0-liter base engine is being dropped from the lineup for good. While the company hasn't finalized trim levels, Mazda vehicle development engineer Dave Coleman told C/D that numerous combinations of all-wheel drive, manual transmissions, and the upcoming Skyactiv-X engine are all "possible."

It seems that Mazda is pulling out all the stops with the 2019 Mazda 3 sedan and hatchback. The latest-generation compact rides on a completely new platform, sports an attractive design inside and out, is newly available with all-wheel drive, and eventually will be offered with an advanced new engine technology called Skyactiv-X.

The new 3 is slightly lower and longer than before, and its wheelbase is stretched 1.0 inch. Mazda has swapped its predecessor's more sophisticated multilink independent rear suspension for a cheaper and more compact torsion-beam setup. Mazda claims that this new suspension—together with more sound-deadening material—improves the car's quietness, but we hope the switch doesn't come at the expense of the 3's characteristically responsive handling. To this end, Mazda's G-Vectoring Control Plus system, the latest version of the system that ever so slightly reduces engine torque to sharpen steering feel at turn-in, is included.

Mazda says that the 2019 3 will launch in the U.S. with a Skyactiv 2.5-liter inline-four mated to either a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. The company isn't discussing power figures at this point, but we expect a similar output to the current 2.5-liter's 184 horsepower and 185 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive will be optional, a first for the 3, and Mazda says it's "possible" that it will be offered with the manual transmission. Later in the 3's run, a new Skyactiv-X inline-four with Mazda's compression-ignition-capable tech will join the lineup promising significantly improved fuel economy. Given that prototypes of this engine exist with both manual and automatic transmissions, expect the production version to offer both gearboxes; Mazda also says that Skyactiv-X can be paired with all-wheel drive (although that doesn't mean it will be).

The 3's new exterior and interior design seeks to impart a more premium, upscale character. The hatchback's lines are remarkably close to the Kai concept from last year, sharing the same sharply creased front end with slimmer headlights and a prominent front grille, chunky C-pillar, and futuristic-looking taillights with circular cutouts. In contrast to previous 3s, the sedan has its own distinct, more elegant profile, with an attractive rounded greenhouse and a nicely sculpted trunklid.

Interior materials appear to be significantly upgraded, with a stitched dash pad, metal trim for the climate-control knobs and central infotainment controller, a new steering-wheel design, and an 8.8-inch display screen. A dark red leather upholstery color will be offered on the hatchback, and options include a Bose audio system, numerous active-safety features, and a head-up display.

Models with the 2.5-liter engine will be going on sale in early 2019, with the Skyactiv-X engine scheduled to arrive by the end of 2019. Look for both the sedan and hatchback models to be more expensive than before, as the current car's base prices of $18,990 and $20,240 are for the lower-powered 2.0-liter version, and that won't be part of the new car's lineup (at least at first). Watch for more details about the enticing new Mazda 3 over the next few months.